[KarlInOhio]

On the other hand, maybe someone who got his senate seat through the proper back scratching will know that he is there to jealously guard the state's authority and budget and there will be a lot fewer mandates from the federal government. Would a senator who has to answer to his state assembly be as eager to approve laws which say "Do this (seat belts, helmets, motor voter, etc. etc.) or else you don't get any highway money"?

Blago took away a lot of my anti-17th zeal, but not all of it.

[allmendream]

Oh I agree that the 17th made Senators much more beholden to the almighty Fed, rather than to State Legislatures: but I think reigning in the Government is critical, irrespective of the motivations of the individuals involved.

In other words; I am not arguing for them exercising the amount of power that they do on behalf of the Fed instead of the State, or the State instead of the Fed. I don't think they should have the amount of power they do in the first place!